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MICHIGAN

HopCat’s August arrival to spice up E.L. bar scene

The East Lansing bar scene: Dublin Square, Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub, Rick’s American Café, The Riv. In August, a felinelike juncture will be added to the city’s bar lineup. HopCat is set to open its East Lansing location at 211 Ann St. in August, tucked beneath the altitudinous Residences apartments of Cron Management.

MICHIGAN

Whole llama love

The Topliffs have a whole lotta love for their llamas. In 1993, Don and Sheryl Topliff bought their first two llamas. Now the herd on their 50-acre plot of land in Williamston, Mich., has expanded to 24 llamas. They said the llamas are a large attraction for their bed and breakfast.

MICHIGAN

Charges against Dishon Ambrose still stand

Detroit resident Dishon Ambrose was denied the motion to quash in the Ingham County Circuit Court this afternoon, according to a representative from Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings’ office. Ambrose was attempting to quash the bind-over, which would have dismissed his charges.

MSU

MSU food development team takes 2nd place in competition

MSU’s Food Development Product team snagged second place at a national conference in Chicago last week with Minus-the-Moo!, an all-natural, nondairy, almond milk-based, sugar-free dessert, taking home a sweet reward of $2,000. From July 13-16, MSU took their food product inventions to the national IFT Student Association & Mars Product Development Competition located at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Ill.

MICHIGAN

State surcharge helps low-income families

After two years of quick-fix solutions, the Legislature passed a new long-term plan to provide heating assistance for low-income families. The recently approved program adds a new surcharge on utility users — up to $1 per month.

MICHIGAN

Alcohol-after-midnight ordinance faces changes

East Lansing’s moratorium on restaurants serving alcohol past midnight could become permanent in the fall. City council adopted a resolution on March 5 authorizing a 180-day temporary moratorium on approval of restaurants serving alcohol past midnight. The moratorium was enforced to provide staff time to evaluate the approval of downtown restaurants serving alcohol, as well as the overall impact of licensed establishments. The goal is to recommend appropriate policy changes that address those issues, East Lansing Planning & Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said.

MICHIGAN

MSU police called in for protesting event

On Monday morning, about 40 members of Michigan Coalition Against Tar Sands gathered near Stockbridge, Mich., where they clung to bulldozers and protested the expansion of an oil pipeline. Of these protestors, 11 were arrested and four face felony charges, Ingham County Sheriff’s Maj. Joel Maatman said.

MSU

MSU uses dining halls as recruiting tool

It’s a never ending struggle; an arms race. Those with the biggest and most to offer compete for the best and the brightest. Schools are looking to attract the most talented students high schools have to offer, and to compete, schools are constantly looking for new angles and ways to bring students on-campus. “We do everything we can to connect students to academic and non-academic interests on-campus,” said John Ambrose, associate director for inclusion and strategic planning at the Office of Admissions. Ambrose added that MSU works with alumni from across the country to play host to potential future students.

MSU

Landon Hall renovations include three new dining levels

Landon Hall just went under the renovation knife as it begins its complete internal makeover, slated to finish in August 2014. The residence hall, built in 1947, will have various new features added to the resident rooms in addition to a dramatic transformation within the dining hall.

NEWS

New MSU initiative attempts to recruit women into engineering fields

About seven years ago, faculty in the MSU College of Engineering began to see an unsettling trend. Despite a wealth of prospective engineering and computer science jobs across the country, there simply weren’t enough women in the field to fill them. Across majors in engineering, women make up anywhere from 9-40 percent of the undergraduate student population, said Judy Cordes, MSU’s Women in Engineering Program coordinator.

MICHIGAN

Mich. lawmakers debate purpose of Stand Your Ground law

In the wake of George Zimmerman’s acquittal and the subsequent outrage from organizations such as the NAACP, calling for justice in the death of Trayvon Martin, some members of the Michigan Legislature are questioning whether existing law would create a similar case here in Michigan. The Self Defense Act of 2006, otherwise known as the Stand Your Ground law, permits individuals who fear impending death, significant bodily harm or sexual assault, to act with deadly force in order to protect themselves.

MICHIGAN

Local woman recognized for helping elderly woman find her family

Fowlerville, Mich., resident Bethany Scheib didn’t think twice when she drove nearly three hours to return a stranger to her family. The stranger, an elderly woman from St. Charles, Ill., had gotten lost while on her way to visit her daughter and unknowingly drove across the state border. Scheib contacted and met with the woman’s family, earning her a standing ovation in the St. Charles City Council Chambers and a Citizen Appreciation award last Monday.